Fragmentary letter addressed to Apollonios, strategos of the Apollonopolite Heptakomia nome, concerning terms (haireseis) that had been offered and a request to act with magnanimity toward certain people. The writer expresses surprise, discusses being persuaded to abide by the given terms, and closes with greetings dated Hathyr 23.
In English machine translation
[recto]
[...]
[...] ... [...] ... [...]
[...] I was surprised if I, wishing
[...] that nothing should escape you from
[...] but now to be persuaded and
[to abide] by the terms given
[...] I am (?) to blame in your eyes, although not ...
[...] which I had said; but it is the task of a cautious man, if he learns ...
[...] in the name the terms were given
[...] worth hesitating without you ... [...] now ... [...]
[...] somewhere, having been in need, into
[...] owing [...] man
[...] with your consent to
[...] give to him. But that [...] resources he is borne (?) ... the gods are owners. For you know better than I the magnanimity which one ought, even if
it were not possible, to preserve at least towards such people. I pray for your health, most honoured Apollonios,
together with your children, whom may the evil eye not touch.
[...] Hathyr 23.
[verso]
To Apollonios, strategos of the Apollonopolite Heptakomias [...]
Apollonios is the well-known strategos of the early 2nd century AD whose archive this letter belongs to. The word haireseis can mean terms or offers, e.g. bids in a lease or contract.
Working translation of the DDbDP edition, made with Claude Opus 5.5 from the edition and the catalogue records shown below. It has not been reviewed by a papyrologist: check the edition before citing. Restorations follow the edition; […] marks lost text and (?) an uncertain reading.